Rail anchor tie plate



Nov. 22, 1955 H. T. JONES RAIL ANCHOR TIE PLATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 21, 1952 INVENTOR Nov. 22, 1955 Filed Aug. 21, 1952 H. T. JONES RAIL ANCHOR TIE PLATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mVENTOR BY /M 77% ATTORNEY a rocker plate'rail clip as hereinafter described.

hThis invention relatesto rail anchor tie plates and aims generally to improve the same.

Particular objects of the invention are to provide an improved rail anchor and tie plate construction; to reducejor largely eliminate the loosening of rail spikes under the impact of moving rolling stock; to cushion andaquietthe trackage; to reduce or largely eliminate rail creep; and "to provide novel structures and combinations of "parts contributing to the realization of such" objects. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following descriptionof illustrative embodiments thereof.

a In the accompanying drawings of such illustrative enibodiments Figl 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment. Fig. 2 is a partial transverse central section therethrough with the left hand portion shown in elevation.

Fig; 3 is a disassembled detail of one form of rocker assembi er rail clip as employed in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig.4 is a partial transversesection of a second emment.

Fig. .6 is a partial plan view of such third embodiment. Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, the tie plate A is of a relatively light weight n ovel construction and is provided with means for securing it to a tie B and with means for securing in it a rail C.

The plate A in the form shown comprises a relatively thin" base 1, say of thickness, having integral therewithspaced parallel longitudinal reinforcing and rail re taining walls2. Such retaining walls may have a thickness of andmay stand about A" high at their retainingportions 2a. Integral with the retaining walls 2 are rocker bars 2b preferably having rounded under sides as shown (Fig. 2) and having a cross section of about 1" by A". These rocker bars 2b extend upwardly like bails or handles from the longitudinal reinforcing walls 2 and define rocker spaces in the form of passages or open slots thereunder of a height to extend sufiieiently above the top surface of a rail flange C to accommodate Also integral with the base 1 and walls 2, the tie plate A comprises paired transverse reinforcing and rockerretaining buttress walls 3 and further longitudinal reinforcingend retaining walls 4; The buttress walls 3 as shown may be relatively light, say of thickness, and may have a height a little greater than that of the retaining walls 2, say a height of about 1", and the rocker retainer walls 4 may havea thickness of about and a height of about /z 1 i As is best shown in Fig. 1 the spaces between the walls 3*are preferably a little wider than the open slots or passages underlying the rocker bars2b andthe walls 2, 3 and 4 thus define between them rocker positioning housings or: sockets bottomed by the base 1 of the tie plate and opening above the rail flange C through the passages underlying the rocker bars 212. In the form shown the bottom surfaces of these passages are spaced above the base ,1 so that the reinforcing andretaining wall 2 extends continuously from end to end of the tie plate under the passages. In the form shown a single rocker bar 2b isp'rovided at each side of the rail centrally of the length of thetie plate, but theinvention is not limited to this form is a partial transverse section of athird -embodi- United States Patent U 2,724,558 Patented Nov. 22, .1955

2b of the rocker bar portions 2b are faired down, herein at 45, to merge with the top surfaces of the wall portions 2a.

For lightness combined with adequate surface for the,

support of the rail and anti-creeping means therefor when used, the rail seat portion of the tie plate, comprising the walls 2 and the base between them, is extended somewhat beyond the portions of the base lateral thereof, the longitudinal extent of which need be only sufiicient to accommodate the means at 5 for securing the tie plate A to the ties B. a

The securing means at 5 may be of any conventional form and may vary depending on whether wooden or concrete or other forms of tie B are used and whether the installation is made on land or on bridge or trestle structures. Hence the invention is not limited to anyv particular form of tie plate securing means at 5 where the tie plate is herein shown as provided with bolt or spike receiving apertures marginally reinforced by a thickening of the base 1. The base 1 and wall and rocker bar elements 2, 2b, 3 and 4 may be cast integrally of suitable metal, in which case corners and wall junctions are appropriately filleted, or when desired the structure may be forged or fabricated in any other appropriate way.

The rail C in the form shown is typical of any standard rail as, say, a rail having a base flange of 5 /2 overall width.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the rail base C rests on the tie plate base 1 between the retaining walls 2, and a rubber or like pad or cushion 6 may be interposed between the rail base Cand the tie platebase 1.

The means for retaining the rail in the tie plate comprises a rocker plate 7 extending under the rock bar 2b and having its inner end bearing on the flange of the rail C, there being associated with its outer ends jackscrew means for raising such outer end and fulcruming theplate on the under side of rocker bar 21: thereby to clamp the rail flange firmly in the tie plate. In the form shown A the portion of the rocker plate 7 that extends through the passage into overlying relation with the rail flange is narrower than that portion of plate 7 that lies between walls 3. Shoulders are thus provided by which the plate is automatically correctly positioned, when inserted in the vent, in proper relation to provide for operation of the jack screw means.

The jack screw means in the form of Figs. 1 to 3 has threaded engagement with the outer wide end of the rocker plate which is thickened or reinforced as shown at 7a, Figs. 1 and 2 for the threaded engagement with the 'jack screw 8. The lower end of the jack screw bears directly or indirectly on the base 1 of the tie plate A, and in the form shown has a reduced cylindricalsection 8a that enters a centering aperture in a bearing plate 9 that is employed for spreading the load applied to lift the outer end of the rocker plate 7. The rocker plate 7 may be formed of steel plate or forging and may itself be slightly flexible to constitute or assist in the provision of a1 aiding the walls 3 in positioning rocker plate 7. 'The" second comprises a rubber or like resilient pad 11 vulcanized or otherwise bonded to the under side of the rail flange clamping end of rocker plate 7 and aiding in maintaining a firm resilient engagement between plate 7 and the rail flange. The thirdcomprises the rubber or like resilient pad 6 interposed between the rail base andthe tie plate. Any and all of the rubber elements thus exemplified in the form of Figs. 1 to 3 may be employed or omitted, but when the elements 6, 7 and 10 are employed together an arrangement is provided that is especially effective in preventing creep of the rail and in avoiding permanent deformation of the plate 7 under the wavelike motion imparted to the rail by the passage of rolling stock thereover, and that affords a completely rubber mounting of the rail in the tie plate.

In assembling the arrangement of Figs. 1 to 3 the tie plate A, to which the pad 6 may be vulcanized or otherwise bonded, is placed in position, the rail is seated therein, the elements9 and 10, if used, are dropped into the socket defined by walls 2, 3 and 4, rocker 7 is inserted through the vent until its shoulders engage wall 2, and the jack screw 8 is tightened until the desired clamping pressure is obtained. Since the jack screw means, consisting of the resilient members 11) and jack screws 8 is interposed between the opposed surfaces of the base and the outer ends of the rocker members 7, it serves to resiliently elevate and support the outer ends of the rocker plates 7. Any suitable means maye be provided the jack screw 8, exemplified by kerfed heads herein. Equivalent means might constitute Allen or Phillips headed screws (i. e. screws having reentrant hexagonal sockets and tapered cruciform sockets rather than kerfs in their heads), for example. 7

When the resilient means 10 and 11 are provided, the vibrations imparted to the jack screw 8 by the wave motion of the rail are damped thus assisting in preventing loosening of the jack screw 8 in the installation. The arrangement shown also assists in the inspection and maintenance of the trackage as a simple touch by an inspector will disclose the loosening of any clamp and it is then a simple matter to restore its clamping action by further tightening of its jack screw 8. The resiliency afiorded by the assembly allows a certain degree of wave motion of the rail and partially absorbs ordamps the stresses resulting therefrom thereby reducing the tendency of the tie plate A to lift and exert undue pulling stresses on the means by which it issecured to the tie B. In this way loosening of such securing means is reduced or largely eliminated.

In theform of Fig. 4 the construction is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 through 3 and the corresponding parts are indicated 'by like reference numerals distinguished by priming." This form differs from that shown in Figs. 1 to 3, however, in several respects. The resilient bearing means 10 in this instance is in the form of a helical metal spring 10' rather than a rubber pad, and the bearing plate 9' is centrally provided on its under side with a positioning boss entering the helical spring for centering it within the rocker socket. in accordance with my prior application Ser. No. 12,971, is vacuum bonded to the rail base C and to the tie plate by the vacuum grip perforations 6a therein. As further illustrated in Fig. 4 the screw jack 8' may be provided with a lock nut 8b by which it can be secured against accidental backing off. This figure also illustrates in phantom at 7b that the inner end of rocker 7 may be, upwardly canted relative to the outer end to accommodate thicker rail flanges C, thicker bearing cushions 11, or thicker anti-creeping elements 6, and to increase the area of contact of the rocker or rocker cushion 11' with the rail flange. Finally in this embodiment a further silencing cushion 12' is inserted between the tie plate A and the underlying tie or other substructure B. It will be appreciated that each of the added features of this embodiment may be used separately or in combination in a structure otherwise similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3.

In the forms of Figs. 5 and 6 the structure again is In addition in Fig. 4 the rubber pad 6 generally similar to that of Figs. 1 to 3 differing therefrom only in two respects. The first of these differences is that pad 6" in accordance with my above mentioned prior patent application is vacuum bonded to the under side of the rail base C as by sockets 6a" and vulcanized or otherwise bonded to the tie plate A. The second resides in a reversal of the jack screw arrangement in which the jack screw 8 is threaded through-a bearing plate 9" underlying the outer end of the rocker plate 7' and engages against the bottom of the jack screw socket in the tie plate A, the resilient means 10", shown as a helical spring centered on the bearing plate 9" being interposed between the bearing plate 9 and the rocker plate 7". In this form the outer portion of the rocker plate 7" and the resilient means 10" (that may be in the form of a rubber pad) are centrally apertured for the free passage of the jack screw 8" therethrough, lateral abutment of the parts serving to prevent slippage of the rocker plate 7" relative to the resilient means 10", though a spring-enteringboss like that on plate 9" may be employed for this purpose. Wi h this arrangement advance of the jack screw 8" lifts the bearing plate 9" against the resilient means which in turn lifts the outer end of the rocker 7 thereby rocking the same into firm engagement with the rail flange.

The tie plate of the present invention has an advantageous ratio of strength to weight; makes effective use of the materials employed, in an economical manner; is

easily and quickly placed, adjusted and maintained; prolongs the life of the trackage and ties by its stress absorbing or damping capacity; and is particularly adapted for reducing rail creep, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Where the term rubber is employed herein, it is to be understood that synthetic as well as natural rubbery materials are contemplated.

While there have been described herein what are at present considered preferred embodiments of the inven- -tion, it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that minor modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the essence of the invention. It is therefore to be understood that the exemplaryembodiments are illustrative and not restrictive of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims, and that all modifications that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.

I claim: t

1. A rail anchor tie plate comprising a base, spaced parallel rail retaining walls upstanding therefrom to receive a rail base therebetween, each of said retaining walls comprising an upstanding rocker-bar forming portion and having an open slot therethrough below saidrocker-bar portion, rocker plates for extending one through each of said open slots with their inner ends in overlying relation to a rail base seated between said retaining walls and with their outer ends outside said walls, and adjustable jacking means for elevating the outer ends of each of said rocker plates.

2. A rail anchor tie plate comprising a base, spaced parallel rail retaining walls upstanding therefrom to receive a rail base therebetween, each of said retaining walls comprising an upstanding rocker-bar forming portion and having an open slot therethrough below said rocker-bar portion, rocker plates for extending through said open slots with their inner ends in overlying relation to a rail base seated between said retaining walls and with their outer ends outside said walls, said outer ends and said base presenting opposed surfaces, and adjustable means for resiliently elevating the outer ends of said rocker plates comprising resilient members and jack screw means for. compressing said resilient members, said members and screw means being interposed between said opposed surfaces.

3. A rail anchor tie plate comprising a base, spaced parallel rail retaining walls upstanding therefrom to receive a rail base therebetween, each of said retaining walls comprising an upstanding rocker-bar forming portion and having an open slot therethrough below said rocker-bar portion, rocker plates for extending through said open slots with their inner ends in overlying relation to a rail base seated between said retaining walls and with their outer ends outside said walls, said outer ends and said base presenting opposed surfaces, said base having upstanding walls defining sockets for guiding said outer ends, a rubber bearing pad in each of said sockets, a bearing plate on each of said rubber pads, a jack screw threaded through each of said outer ends, and means for centering said jack screws on said bearing plates.

4. A rail anchor tieplate comprising a base, spaced parallel rail retaining walls upstanding therefrom to receive a rail base therebetween, each of said retaining walls 1 comprising an upstanding rocker-bar forming portion and having an open slot therethrough below said rocker-bar portion, rocker plates for extending through said open slots with their inner ends in overlying relation to a rail base seated between said retaining walls and with their outer ends outside said walls, said outer ends and said base presenting opposed surfaces, said base having upstanding walls defining sockets for guiding said outer ends, a rubber bearing pad in each of said sockets, a bearing plate on each of said rubber pads, a jack screw threaded through each of said outer ends, and means for centering said jack screws on said bearing plates, said centeringmeans comprising shoulders on said rocker plates abutting said retaining walls to center the jack screws relative to the bearing plates.

5. A rail anchor tie plate comprising a base, spaced parallel rail retaining walls upstanding therefrom to receive a rail base therebetween, each of said retaining walls comprising an upstanding rocker-bar forming portion and having an open slot therethrough below said rocker-bar portion, rocker plates for extending through said open slots with their inner ends in overlying relation to a rail base seated between said retaining Walls and with their outer ends outside said walls, said outer ends and said base presenting opposed surfaces, said base having upstanding walls defining sockets for guiding said outer ends, a rubber bearing pad in each of said sockets, a bearing plate on each of said rubber pads, a jack screw threaded through each of. said outer ends, and means for centering said jack screws on said bearing plates, said centering means comprising shoulders on said rocker plates abutting said retaining walls to center the jack screws relative to the bearing plates, and axial extensions on said jack screw entering centering apertures in said bearing plates.

6. A rail anchor tie plate comprising a base, spaced parallel rail retaining walls upstanding therefrom to receive a rail base therebetween, each of said retaining walls comprising an upstanding rocker-bar forming portion and having an open slot therethrough below said rocker-bar portion, rocker plates for extending through said open slots with their inner ends in overlying relation to a rail base seated between said retaining walls and with their outer ends outside said walls, adjustable means for elevating the outer ends of said rocker plates, rubber rail flange clamping pads carried by the under sides of the inner ends of said rockerplates, and a rubber pad mounted on said base and extending between said rail retaining walls for cooperating with said rail flange clamping pads to afiord, an all-rubber securement of the rail flange.

7. A rail anchor tie plate comprising, in combination, a base having upstanding rail retaining walls thereon, paired buttress walls extending laterally from said retaining walls, and bridge walls extending between said buttress walls in spaced relation to said rail retaining walls, said rail retaining walls comprising rocker bars extending thereabove between the paired buttress walls and having openings under said rocker bars, rocker plates for extending through said openings with their inner ends in overlying relation to a rail base seated between said rail retaining walls and with their outer ends positioned between said paired buttress Walls, and jack screw m-eans positioned at least in part by said paired buttress walls for elevating the outer ends of said rocker plates to clamp said rail base between said inner ends and said base.

8. A combination according to claim 7, said jack screw means comprising interposed resilient elements and operating to resiliently elevate and support said outer ends.

9. A combination according to claim 8, in which the resilient elements interposed in the jack screw means consist of rubber pads supported on the base, and in which the jack screw means comprise jack screws threaded through said outer ends and engaging bearing plates supported by said rubber pads.

10. A combination according to claim 8, in which the resilient elements interposed in the jack screw means con sist of helical springs and in which the jack screw means comprise jack screws threaded through said bearing plates and engaging said base, said bearing plates underlying said outer ends and said helical springs being interposed between said bearing plates and said outer ends.

11. A rail anchor tie-plate sub-combination comprising a flat base, upstanding rail retaining walls thereon, pairs of spaced apart buttress walls extending laterally from each of said rail retaining walls, and bridge walls extending between the buttress walls of each pair in spaced relation to said rail retaining walls, said railretaining, paired buttress-, and bridge-walls defining at each side of the tie plate a wall surrounded rail clip socket, said rail retaining walls comprising rocker bars extending thereabove between the paired buttress walls and said rail retaining walls having openings under said rocker bars for the extension of rocker plates therethrough.

12. A rail anchor tie plate sub-combination comprising a fiat base with upstanding rail retaining walls thereon, said rail retaining walls comprising rocker bars extending thereabove and having openings under said rocker bars for the extension of rocker plates therethrough, and said base having pairs of spaced apart transverse rocker retaining buttress walls laterally guiding said rocker plates and defining rail clip rocker sockets positioned outwardly of and in alignment with said rocker bars.

13. A rail anchor tie plate sub-combination comprising a flat base with upstanding rail retaining walls thereon, said rail retaining walls comprising rocker bars extending thereabove parallel to their length and having openings under said rocker bars for the extension of rail clip rocker plates therethrough, and said base having pairs of spaced apart transverse rocker retaining buttress walls laterally guiding said rocker plates and longitudinal retaining walls spaced outwardly from said rail retaining Walls, said longitudinal and transverse walls defining rail clip rocker sockets positioned outwardly of and in alignment with said rocker bars.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,003,172 Burger et al. Sept. 12, 1911 1,404,076 Van Zile Jan. 17, 1922 1,888,648 Woodings Nov. 22, 1932 2,162,599 Austin et al. June 13, 1939 2,242,773 Boyce May 20, 1941 2,609,991 Jones Sept. 9, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 143,378 Austria Nov. 11, 1935 697,905 .France Nov. 5, 1930 760,876 France Dec. 27, 1933 

